The Phillies second baseman left Clearwater on Monday and is headed out of town to have his knees evaluated by a specialist who "has helped athletes overcome his issue," Amaro said in a statement.

What's particularly alarming is that both knees are now a concern.

Utley missed the first 46 games of the 2011 season because of patellar tendinitis and chondromalacia in his right knee, but Amaro admitted that Utley's left knee is now even worse.

"The guy's got bad knees. We know it," Amaro said to writers in Clearwater.

Utley took infield practice when spring training opened and was regularly taking batting practice with his teammates. However, by the time Grapefruit League games began in early March, reports indicated that Utley's infield work all but stopped and the number of swings he was taking had been drastically cut back.

After saying last week that he was confident Utley would be ready for Opening Day on April 5 against the Pirates, Amaro changed his tune Monday.

"I would think it would be doubtful for him to be prepared to play second base for us Opening Day," Amaro told reporters.

So, who then is the leading candidate to be standing at second base next month in Pittsburgh?

"I like [Freddy] Galvis," Amaro told writers. "Has Galvis done anything to warrant not playing? He's been our best player this spring."

Prior to the last 10 days, Galvis had never played second base during spring training or a regular-season game. He toyed around there during winter ball in Venezuela, but has always been considered a prospect at shortstop.

"Everything's moved fast," Galvis told reporters in Clearwater. "Three months ago, I was thinking playing shortstop. Right now, it's weird playing second base. But I have to, in my mind, move pretty fast. I was at shortstop and now I have to move to second base.

"But it's a dream come true. Every young guy wants to be a big leaguer. I try to keep working hard and do the job."

Amaro added that he's not looking for help at second base via the trade market.

All indications are the Phillies will be starting the 2012 season without Ryan Howard, the fastest player in the history of the game to hit 200 home runs, and Utley, who was once thought to be a perennial MVP candidate and four times drove in 100 or more runs.

"Not a lot of offense, huh?" Amaro said in Clearwater. "We're going to have to pitch the ball and catch the ball like we did last year."